The Origins of the Common Riding

In 1759 Court of Session in Edinburgh awarded the Burgesses of Langholm
certain legal rights and privileges. Most importantly the recognition of the
community having ownership of part of the Ten Merk Lands, particularly the
Common Moss and the Kilngreen.

Through the award it was now the Burgesses' responsibility to mark and
define all boundaries of the communal possessions by erecting cairns,
beacons and digging out ditches and pits.

The first elected man to perform these tasks was the Town Drummer
Archibald (Bauldie) Beattie. He walked the the 'Marches' for over fifty years
performing his duty and died in 1823, aged 90 years.

In 1816 the first horseman to ride the common was the landlord of the
Commercial Inn, Archie Thomson along with other townsmen, John Irving of
Langholm Mill, Frank Beattie, landlord of the Crown Inn. These men were known
as the 'Fathers of the Common Riding'. These men were responsible for
starting horse racing on the Kilngreen, the same year as they rode the
Marches together.

In 1817, the first 'Cornet' or Master of Ceremonies was duly elected by
the residents of the old part of the town. It was some years later, in 1843
before residents of the New Town were allowed to vote.

In the same year a departure from the old practices was made when a man
from the New Town, a 'Meikleholmer' was elected to hold the office of
Cornet, a blacksmith named Robert Anderson.

It was in 1919 that a decision was made to hold the Common Riding on the
last Friday in July.

The colours of the ties, ribbons, and rosettes are uniquely chosen by
taking them from the racing colours of the winner of the Derby.

One of the features of the Langholm Common Riding is the quaint and unique
set of emblems that are carried aloft throughout the street processions.

The Barley Banna and Sa't Herring

A SALTED HERRING pinned to a BANNOCK which is fastened to a wooden platter
by a 'twal-penny nail' and flourished aloft on a pole. The bannock symbolises
privileges of the Baron under the obligation of Thirlage, and the herring may
be symbolic of the right of the Baron to the fisheries of the Esk.

The Spade

The SPADE is the very epitome of the Common Riding, through its use for
cutting sods at different points of the 'Common' and for clearing out the
pits which were originally boundary markers on the Common Moss on Whita Hill.

The Scotch Thistle

A gigantic locally grown Scotch THISTLE is the third emblem, the origin of
which is obscure. As it is the national emblem of Scotland it was probably
adopted as such, or on account of its 'jags' as a warning to those who were
contemplating molesting the Fair.

The Floral Crown

The fourth emblem is the FLORAL CROWN - it has no historical significance,
and may have been adopted as a symbol of loyalty to the sovereign.

LANGHOLM FAIR

The most interesting feature of the Common Riding is undoubtedly the
'Crying of the Fair'. This falls into three parts, the first part calls upon
the townspeople to go out in defence of their rights; the Fair itself is the
ancient proclamation, and the conclusion expresses the satisfaction which
comes from a duty faithfully performed.

First Fair Crying

GENTLEMEN - the first thing I am going to acquaint you with are the names of
the Portioners' Grounds of Langholm from whence their services are from;

Now, Gentlemen, we're gan frae the Toun',
And first of a' the Kil-Green we gan' roun';
It is an ancient place where clay is got,
And it belangs tae us by Right and Lot;
And then frae there the Lang Wood we gan' throu',
Where every ane may breckons cut and pu';
And last of a' we to the Moss do steer,
Tae see gif a' oor Mairches they be clear;
And when unto the Castle Craigs we come,
I'll cry the Langholm Fair and then we'll beat the drum.

Now, Gentlemen what you have heard this day concerning going roond oor
Marches, it is expected that everyone who has occasion for Peats, Breckons,
Flacks, Stanes or Clay, will go out in defence of their property, and they
shall hear the Proclamation of the Langholm Fair upon the Castle Craigs.

Second Fair Crying

Now, Gentlemen, we hae gane roun' oor hill,
So now I think it's richt we had oor fill
O' guid strang punch - twould mak us a' tae sing,
Because this day we have dune a guid thing;
For gangin' roun' oor hill we think nae shame,
Because frae it oor peats and flacks come hame;
So now I will conclude and sae nae mair,
And gin ye're a' pleased I'll cry the Langholm Fair.
Hoys yes! that's ae time,
Hoys yes! that's twae times
Hoys yes! that's the third and the last time.

Conclusion

This Is To Give Notice

that there is a muckle Fair to be hadden in the muckle Toun o' the
Langholm on the 15th day of July, auld style, upon his Grace the Duke of
Buccleuch's Merk Lands, for the space of eight days and upwards; and a'
land-loupers, and dub-scoupers, and gae-by-the-gate swingers, that come to
breed hurdums or durdums, huliments or buliments, hagglements or
bragglements, or to molest this public Fair,they shall be ta'en by order of
the Bailey and Toun Cooncil, and their lugs be nailed to the tron wi' a
twalpenny nail, and they shall sit doun on their bare knees and pray seven
times for the King and thrice for the Muckle Laird o' Ralton, and pay a groat
tae me, Jamie Ferguson, Baillie o' the aforesaid Manor, and I'll away hame
and hae a Bannock and a saut herring tae ma denner by way o' auld style.